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Are you looking for a change of scenery or want to experience life in a new city? Moving can be expensive, especially to a new city or state. But many American small towns that will pay you to move there offer financial incentives to attract new residents.
With the rise of remote work, many can keep their jobs while moving to a more affordable place.
I used MakeMyMove to research and put together a list of 16 American small towns that will pay you to move there. Some even give extra incentives like access to outdoor or cultural programs or free internet.
So, if you’re considering a move and want a job with higher pay, consider relocating to these great small towns. You might just find a better quality of life and financial perks along the way!
Pikeville, Kentucky
Pikeville is in eastern Kentucky and is one of the best small towns in America. The town offers $5,000 cash if you move there and an Eastern Kentucky Welcome Pack worth $250. If you are a remote worker with a spouse who will work in healthcare or education in the city, another $2,500 incentive is available.
South Bend, Indiana
South Bend is next to Notre Dame University on the St. Joseph River. The town offers a $5,000 cash incentive if you move and various regional packages and benefits, such as museums, outdoor activities, baseball tickets, and more.
Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Texas, sits on the southwest border of Arkansas and the twin city. This town offers $5,000 cash for relocating there. The Patterson Troike Foundation provides the incentive. Other incentives the city provides include tuition discounts, scholarships, and more.
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana, Texas, is on the state’s eastern border. The town offers many of the same relocation benefits as its twin city, Texarkana, Arkansas, including $5,000 cash, tuition discounts, and scholarships.
Pittsfield, Illinois
The self-proclaimed pork capital of the Midwest, Pittsfield, Illinois, will pay you $5,000 to move there. You’ll also get three months of free high-speed internet, TV, phone, water, sewer utilities, and plenty of other benefits.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma, is on the Arkansas River and is considered the arts and cultural center of the state. Tulsa offers a $10,000 grant to remote workers moving to the city. Other incentives include free monthly events, wellness resources, and more.
Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington, New Mexico, might be the perfect place to move if you enjoy outdoor activities. There’s plenty to do, including fishing, hunting, golf, mountain biking, hiking, and more. Farmington doesn’t pay a cash incentive but offers free entry into many locations, free golf, and plenty of other benefits for new residents.
Pocahontas, Iowa
Located in northwest Iowa, Pocahontas is a small town that provides plenty of amenities. The town will pay a $2,000 cash incentive to move there, plus a season pass to the local pool, a $500 gift card to a local supermarket, and more.
Jackson, Michigan
The only city in Jackson County, Michigan, Jackson is named after President Andrew Jackson and is considered the place where the Republican Party began. Jackson offers a $20,000 police officer sign-up bonus for new residents who join the police force and other incentives, including golf courses, YMCA memberships, and community events.
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is in southern West Virginia, along the Appalachian Mountains. It’s a beautiful place to live and work. Beckley offers a $5,000 cash incentive to move there, free outdoor recreation, a coworking space for remote workers, social programs and connections to realtors, and mortgage offers.
North Platte, Nebraska
You’ll find over 120 miles of trails to explore in North Platte, 15 lakes, and four golf courses. The town doesn’t pay a cash incentive if you move there, but you can get a free month of fiber internet, a family day pass to the Children’s Museum, store discounts, and more.
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Known as the Gateway to the Ozarks, Poplar Bluff is in southeastern Missouri. The town offers a $5,000 cash incentive for relocating and fiber internet free for three months. Other incentives include free memberships to local attractions, free shows, and a free membership to a coworking space.
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is in the northern part of Louisiana and is home to Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University. The town will pay a $10,000 grant spread across three years if you move there, as well as event discounts and community liaisons to help with the move and community connections.
Morgantown, West Virginia
Home to West Virginia University and on the Monongahela River, Morgantown offers a $12,000 cash bonus if you move there. You can also get free outdoor gear rentals, social programs, and a free coworking space.
Owensboro, Kentucky
Nestled in the bend’s crook of the Ohio River, Owensboro offers plenty to do, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. The town will pay a $5,000 stipend in two installments for new residents and offer benefits like memberships to the local Health park and Botanical Garden.
New Albany, Indiana
On the Ohio River, across from Louisville, Kentucky, New Albany offers a $5,000 cash incentive to move there. It also provides a $5,000 business start-up grant or longevity bonus and a 5-year coworking membership.
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Just because you’re watching your money doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a trip abroad. All it takes is a little sifting through countries with the lowest exchange rates. Located in the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, these hot spots offer dynamic cities to explore and stunning landscapes to escape it all.
These exotic locations allow you to splurge without blowing a stack of cash. These destinations were chosen by sorting through the lowest exchange rates for each country against the U.S. dollar. Then, the final selection was made by examining features, including safety, the quality of cultural and outdoor activities, and easy accessibility to natural beauty, such as mountains, rivers, and the ocean.
So, if you’ve avoided international travel due to cost, we think the places on this list represent a great opportunity you probably didn’t know about.
